Photographic-shutter-controlling device.



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Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 [raven/firs.

APPLICATION FILED'DEC- 3. 191.4.

1. a. BROPHY & F. A. MANAU. PHOTOGRAPHIC SHUTTER CONTROLLING DEVICE.

J. G. BROPHY & F. A. MANAU.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SHUTTER CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. I914.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 L'G. BROPHY & F. A. MANAU.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SHUTTER CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. I914- Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- JAMES G. IBBOPHY AND FRED A. MANAU, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIStPHOTOGRAPHIC-SHUT]!EIt-CONTRQLLING DEVICE.

i Specification of Letters fatent.

Patented Apr. 4:, 1916.

Application filed December 3, 1914. Serial No. 875,295.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JAMES G. BROPHY and FREDA. MANAU, citizens of the, United States, residing at'Chicago, in thecounty of 5 Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Photgraphic-Shutter-Controlling Devices, of whichthe following is a description, reference being ha'd to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in

which corresponding reference numerals in determine with certainty justwhat sensitive surfaces or elements ave been exposed and what have not.To these ends, our.invention consists in providing means, in conjunctionwith any well known form of automatic shutter,

' whereby, after actuating the latter to make an exposure, it maybeautomatically locked and so maintained until released by the act ofremoving the sensitive surface from the exposing position andsubstituting another in its place. 1 j r In the example illustrated, wehave shown ,what we'regard as the preferable construction, the inventionbeing applied to a well known form of automatic shutter of the iristype, in conjunction with a sensitized rollfilm and the usual meansemployed for shifting it. Other well known forms of springactuated,trigger-controlled shutters, such, for example, as the focal-plane, droporrotary type, may be used, however, with the same or other means forpresenting and shifting or changing the sensitized surface inconjunction therewith, and hence we do not wish to be limited to thespecific form shown.

Referring to the drawings,Figure 1,- is. a rear elevation, partly insection, taken upon the line 1, Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of thearrow there shown, of a folding, camera embodying features ofapplicantsinvention, a portion of the detachable back being broken away, Fig. 2,is a side elevation partly-in section, said section being taken upon theline 2,'Fig. 1, viewed in the direc side view of a lens, and shuttercase, together tion of the arrow there shown, Fig. 3, .is a

with a portion of the film shifting mechanism, the gearing connectedtherewith and the telescoping shaft and connections interposed betweensaid gearing and the-shuttercase, Fig. 4, isan enlarged longitudinalsectional view of a portion of the telescoping shaft, Figs. 5', and 6,are sections taken upon the lines 5, and 6, respectively, Fig. 4, viewedin the direction of the arrows'there shown. Fig.7, is an enlargedelevation of a portion of the shaft actuated by the film-shiftingmechanism, and the worm-gears connected therewith for driving thetelescoping shaft, Fig. 8, is a section taken upon: the line 8,

Fig. 7, viewed in the direction of the arrow.

there shown, Fig. 9, is an enlarged front elevation of the-lens andshutter case, a portion of the latter being broken away to show thetrigger and the locking mechanism connected therewith, Fig. 10, is anenlarged front view of the stop or locking mechanism, a portion of theratchet-wheel being broken away, to show the main locking-wheel behindit,Fig. 11, is a view partly in section, taken upon the line 11, Fig. 9,viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow there shown, and Fig. 12,is a perspective view\, of the pawl interposed between the trigger andratchet-wheel, together with the retainingspring therefor.

Referring to the drawings, 1, Figs. 3, and 9,

indicate generally a well known form of'lens and shutter-case adaptedforthe use of an ordinary spring operated shutter, not shown.

Pivoted at 2, 9,.to the rear wall 3, of.

the shutter case, is the usual shutter-releasing trigger lever or arm 3,also shown in i Fig. 3, said arm being connected with a suitable shutterand held normally in the position shown in Fig. 9, by means of a spring.not shown, in a well known way. J ournaledupon a stud 1, Figs. 9, 10 and11, which is tapped into the rear wall 5, of the shutter casing, is aratchet-wheel 6, the teeth of which are adapted to be engaged by a pawl7, pivotally connected at 8, Fig. 9, to I the trigger 3. The free end ofsaid pawl is provided with a laterally extendedlug 9, which is adaptedto contact with the ratchet teeth with which it is yieldingly held inen-:'

gagement by means of a retaining-spring 10, one end of which is securedto the casing in any approved way, while the other is bent as shown at11, so as to straddle the pawl,

thereby acting to hold the latter in engagement with the ratchet whilepermitting 1t to be reciprocated by the action of the trigger. A springstop 6 serves to lock the ratchetwheel against backward movement.

Formed upon or rigidly attached to the back of the ratchet-wheel 6, andconcentric with its axis, is a' crown-toothed ratchet 12, Fig. 11, theteeth of which are adapted to be engaged by laterally extendedcounterpart teeth as shown, upon a mutilated-gear wheel generallydesignated by 13, a portion of the front face of which is shown in Fig.10. Said gear is loosely mounted upon the stud 4, with a space betweenit and the wall 5, of the casing, to permit a suflicient backward andforward movement of said gear to enable the ratchet-teeth upon the twowheels to slip past each other. A light spring 14, also shown in Figs. 9and 10, has one end attached to the casing by means of a screw 15, whilethe other end is interposed between the casing 5 and the gear 13, so asto bear against the rear face of the latter to hold the teeth of the tworatchet- ,wheels normally in contact, the 'free end of the spring havingan opening therein, as shown at 16 Fig. 11, to receive the stud 4.

The gear-wheel 13, is provided upon its periphery, with a plurality ofgroups of triangular-shaped or pointed teeth 17, between which groupssaid gear is cut away to provide blank spaces 18. Said groups and spaceswhich are arranged to alternate throughout the periphery of the wheel,are equal in extent and equi-distant from each other.

Mounted upon a short shaft 19, Figs. 10 and 11, is a locking andreleasing pinion 20, having teeth similar in form to the teeth 17, whichthey are adapted to engage, but so spaced or disposed with referencethereto as to increase the back-lash, so that. said pinion while capableof driving its fellow may serve as a lock therefor in the manner and forthe purpose hereinafter described. a A.

in Figs. 1 and 3, to which the lens and shut-- ter-case as well as theforward end of the bellows 22, should one be used, are attached. Rigldlyattached to the rear end of the shaft 19, is oiie member 23, Figs. 1, 3,and 11,-of

a universal joint which is connected by means of the usual intermediatemember 24, also shown in Fig. 4, to a counterpart member 25. The latteris, in turn, attached to the end of a small shaft 26, arranged totelescope with a tubular shaft member or section 27, forming one of aplurality of tubular telescopic members designated, in

.bored suspending members 38, 38.

the example shown, by 28, 29, 30 and 31 respectively, into the last ofwhich is projected'a small shaft 32, corresponding to the shaft 26. Thetubes 28 andv 30, correspond with each other in length and diameter andare adapted respectively to receive in their outer ends the sections 27and 31, while the two are adapted to enter opposite ends of themiddlesection 29, whichis made of sufficient length to receive them. We preferto make the several shaft sections polygonal in cross section, to enablethem to telescope with each other, while serving to rotate or be rotatedby their fellows. The cross sec-- tions shown in Figs. 5 and 6, show thecoacting parts to be rectangular, but we do not wish to be limited tothe cross sectional form shown, nor to any specific construction so longas they are free to telescope and are provided with means forpreventmgrotation one within the other.

The shaft 32, has its projecting end connected with a universal joint,generally designated by 33, Fig. 3, and corresponding in construction tothat of the well known type connected with the shaft 26. The member 34,of said joint, Figs. 3 and 8, is rigidly attached to a short, horizontalshaft 35, also shown in Figs. 1 and 7, which is supported in bearings ina stirrup 36, journaled upon and suspended from a horizontal shaft 37,Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 8, by means of The shaft 37, is arranged horizontallyand has 1 its ends journaled in bearings 39 and 40, respectively, Fig.1, in the upper part of the main frame 41, to which the rear end of thebellows is attached, said shaft being within the inclosure. formed bythe bellows and frame and so placed as not to interfere with the actionof the light rays as they pass from the lens to the sentitized surface.The stirrup bearing support 36,- is placed as near to one end of theshaft as may be and the telescoping shaft is placed as near to thebellows as may be, so as not to obstruct said light rays.

Mounted upon the shaft 37, between the parts 38, 38, and rigidly securedthereto bymeans of a pin 41,'so as to be rotated by said shaft, is aworm 42, adjusted to engage the teeth of a worm-gear 43, rigidly mountedupon the shaft 35. A spur-pinion 44, Figs. 1, 2- and 3, is keyed to theopposite end of the shaft from,the worm'42, and is adapted to be drivenby means of a spur-gear 45, rigidly mounted upon the usual short sleeve46, within which the film shifting'key 47, of well known construction,is slidably mounted. Said-sleeve and keyare provided with the usualoperating thumb-piece 48, Fig. 1, and the usual clutch-mechanism notshown, inclosed within a' hollow disk-like casing 49, to prevent the key47, from being r tated except in a ard direction. The

I by the pinion 20.

usual film-roller, one end of which connects with the key in a welllmown way, and the other with the bearing-stud 51, is not shown. Theoperation of the device is as follows:

-Upon actuating the trigger-arm 3, to open and close the shutter, theratchet-wheel 6, is

moved by the pawl 7 a distance corresponding to the length of one notchand is locked against reverse movement by the action of the spring stop6. The crown-toothed ratchet-wheel 12, being rigid with the wheel 6, andthe mutilated/'gear-wheel 13, having its ratchet teeth in normalengagement therewith, said gear is caused to be rotated a distancecorrespondin to one of the blank spaces 18,.duringwh1ch movementthelocking and releasing pinion 20, being opposite said blank space, canexercise no. influence upon it. As soon, .however, as'the end of one ofsaid blank spaces is reached, the teeth 17 of the gear 13, are broughtinto engagement, as shown in Fig. 10, with the teeth upon the pinion 20,which are so formed by a slight difference in spacing so as" to'increase the back-lash, that the end of one of said latter teeth willbear against the 'face'of one of the teeth 17 at substantially rightangles thereto, and lock the gear wheel 13, against further movement,through the action of the trigger until said gear is released by therotation o the. pinion 20, as herein after described. In

other words, the pinion. 20, constitutes a.

modification of one form of Swiss-stop; and by taking advantage of thefact that a large gear may be locked by a small one unless thepitch-lines are properly designed,

while at the same time the conditions as to movement may be reversed ifthe small one be used as the driver, we are enabled to utilize thepinion 20, both as a locking and releasing member, according as itbecomes the driven or driving element. It will be noted' that the pinion20 is connected through the telescoping shaft described, the worm-gears,shaft 37 and gears 44 and 45, with the filmshifting key. No movement ofthese mem-. bers, however, is caused by the operation of the shutterinasmuch as a blank space 18, is brought opposite to the pinion 20, as aresult of the trigger movement, and hence the shaft and train ofgearsremain stationary, while the trigger is locked againstmovement Theoperator, having made the exposure, at once turns the filmshifting keyin the usual. way "until a new section of film is moved to an exposingposition. In doing so, the train of gears, the shaft 37, and thetelescoping shaft are moved accordingly, thereby actuating the pinion 20in the direction ofthe arrow shown in Fig. 9, which in turn, being thenin engagement with the teeth 17 causes the gear 13 to be rotated throughone section or until the next blank space 18 is. reached. This movement14 is intended merely as a releasing movement for the ratchet 6 and ismade possible by the ping of the ratchet teeth of the mutilated gearupon their fellows formed upon the part 12. 'Itis obvious from thisconstruc: tion that after the pinion 20 shall have engaged the lasttooth of a given group or sec-' tion and is opposite a blank space, itsfurther rotation in the same direction will produce no result. Hence itis immaterial how many turns may be imparted to it in shifting a filmprovided that the gears shall be so timed that said blank space shallnot-be prematurely presented, but it is of course, essential that itshould not be reversed. This contingency is providedfor not only by thespring stop 20, but also by the clutch mechanism connected with the filmoperating key.

It is intended that the and the worm-gears 42 an 43, shall be regardedas merely illustrative and in order to adapt them to cameras of varyingsize, utilizing films of different lengths, said gears should be sovaried and proportioned with respect to eachother as to insure thecomplete transfer of a film before releasing the shutter, in order toprevent double exposure.

From whathas been stated it will be apparent that as a result of theexposure of a given film, the shutter will be automatically locked andthat another exposure cannot be made until the exposed film is shiftedand. a new one brought into an exposing position. In other words, ineach case the shutter and film must alternate'jin their action.

The device is equally applicable to instan-v cars 44 and 45 taneous bulband time exposures inasmovement, and-hence does not recede far enough tocause the pawl connected therewith to engage a new tooth up n theratchetwheel; thereby enabling the cond or shutter closing movement ofthe trigger to be made regardless of the-lock. In ourinvention we havetaken advantage of this well known trigger movement and so far as theshutter per se is concerned, make no claim thereto.

It will be apparent that the-locking pinion will be withheld frombackward movement by the intervening shaft and worm-gear which could notbe actuated in a backward direction by power applied to the mutilatedgear'through the trigger.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with an automaticshutter and means for actuating the same, of a mutilated gear havingtoothed and blank spaces thereon,

tance corresponding to the extent of a blank space thereon to bring atoothed portion into engagement with a locking and releasing gear, alocking and releasing gear for engaging the teeth of said mutilatedgear, the two being so formed and adjusted that the mutilated gear maybe locked thereby against movement through the shutter actuatingmechanism when the teeth are in contact but may be driven by saidlocking and releasing gear when force is applied to the latter, andfilm-shifting means in operative connection with said locking andreleasing gear for actuating the same to move said mutilated gear untila blank space thereon is presented opposite to said locking andreleasing gear.

2'. A device for the purpose specified, comprising in combination, ashutter, tripping means for releasing the same, a rotary member actuatedby said tripping means to be' moved a predetermined distance with eachshutter tripping action, a mutilated gear arranged to be moved a givendistance with each movement of said rotary member, a rotary locking andreleasing pinion having teeth formed to lock said mutilated gear when atoothed section of the latter is brought into contact therewith butadapted to act as a driver to rotate said mutilated without causing amovement of said rotary gear, means for enabling said mutilated gear tobe moved 1n one direction by said pinion member, film-shifting means andmeans actuated thereby for rotating said pinion to unlock said mutilatedgear.

Z A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a shutter,tripping means for releasing the same, a rotary member actuated by saidtripping means to be moved a given distance with each shutter trippingaction, a mutilated gear driven thereby, a locking and releasing pinionhaving teeth formed to lock said mutilated gear when a toothed sectionof the latter is brought into engagement therewith but adapted to act asa driver to rotate said mutilated gear, means for enabling saidmutilated gear to be moved in one direction by said pinion withoutcausing a movement 0 said, rotary member, film-shifting means, meansactuated thereby for rotating said pinion to unlock said mutilated gearand means for preventing a backward movement of said rotary member, gearorv pinion.

4. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination, ashutter, tripping means for releasing the same, a pawl actuated thereby,a ratchet-wheel actuated by said pawl, a crown-toothed ratchet carriedby said ratchet-wheel,a mutilated gear having a counterpartcrown-toothed ratchet, means for holding the counterpart ratchets innormal engagement while permitting the last named one to slip upon itsfellow when driven by said mutilated gear, a locking and releasingpinion having teeth adapted to lock said gear when the teeth of thelatter are brought into engagement therewith but adapted to act as adriver to rotate said mutilated gear, film shifting means and meansactuated thereby for rotating said pinion in one direction only.

5. A device for the purpose specified, comprising in combination, ashutter, tripping means for releasing the same, a rotary member actuatedby said tripping means to be moved a predetermined distance with eachshutter tripping action, a mutilated gear arranged to be moved a givendistance with each movement of said rotary member, a rotary locking andreleasing pinion having teeth formed to lock said mutilated gear when atoothed section of the latter is brought into contact therewith butadapted to act as a driver to rotate said mutilated gear, means forenabling said mutilated gear to be moved in one direction by said pinionwithout causing a movement *of said rotary member, film shifting meansand a rotary shaft and gears interposed between said locking andreleasing pinion and said film shifting means for actuating said plnionto unlocksaid mutilated gear.

6. A device for the purpose specified, comprising, in combination, ashutter, tripping means for releasing the same, a rotary member actuatedby said tripping means to be moved a predetermined distance with eachshutter tripping action, a mutilated gear arranged to be moved a givendistance with each movement of said rotary member, a rotary locking andreleasing pinion having teeth formed to lock said mutilated gear when atoothed section of the latter is brought into contact therewith butadapted to act as a driver to rotate said mutilated gear,'means forenabling said mutilated gear to be moved in one direction by said pinionwithout causing a movement of said rotary member, film shifting meansand a telescoping rotary shaft and gears interposed between said lockingand releasing pinion and said-film-shifting means for actuating saidpinion to unlock said mutilated gear.

DAVID H. FLETCHER, LEsLm W. FRICKE.

